Seafloor Acoustics

Hailey Gilman (student) and Anastasia Rose Dias (student) calibrating echosounders in the engineering tank at UNH.

The seafloor is a dynamic environment that is continuously being affected by hydrodynamic and biological activity. These environmental processes can occur over a range of temporal and spatial scales. 

Our research team focuses on studying the interaction of sound with the seafloor to better understand this complex environment. To this end, we collect data from stationary platforms placed on the seafloor or from research vessels, conduct laboratory experiments and implement computer models. 

Our students are involved in all aspects of the research including designing the experiment as well as collecting and analyzing the data. The results of our research can be used for a variety of purposes, including improving remote-sensing techniques of the seafloor, sea-bed classification, habitat monitoring and object detection.

Instrumented mooring with Kaan Cav (student), Dr. Thomas Blanford and Dr. Jenna Hare (from left to right).
Instrumented mooring with Kaan Cav (student), Dr. Thomas Blanford and Dr. Jenna Hare (from left to right).

Principal Investigators

Jane McCue (student) and Hailey Gilman (student) preparing to deploy an instrumented lander.
Jane McCue (student) and Hailey Gilman (student) preparing to deploy an instrumented lander. 
Hailey Gilman (student) and Anastasia Rose Dias (student) calibrating echosounders in the engineering tank at UNH.
Hailey Gilman (student) collecting data on a research vessel. 
Jane McCue (student) with Dr. Gabriel Venegas taking samples from a sediment core.
Jane McCue (student) with Dr. Gabriel Venegas taking samples from a sediment core. 
Jane McCue (student) with Dr. Gabriel Venegas taking samples from a sediment core.
Hailey Gilman (student) and Dr. Thomas Blanford collecting a sediment sample from the seafloor.